Real Life English Unit 13: Schools - Useful Expressions and Dialogues for Practical English Learning

Learning English is not only about mastering grammar and vocabulary but also about using it naturally in real-world situations. However, the sentences in textbooks are often too formal and far from what people actually say. To speak authentic, natural English, you need to engage with real-life conversations. In this article, we’ve selected commonly used English expressions for socializing, work, travel, and more, helping you break free from 'textbook English' and learn the phrases that foreigners actually use. Below is the content of Real Life English Unit 13: Schools. Keep accumulating, and your English will get closer to real life! V. Education Unit 13 Schools Part One: Expressions 1. What school do you go to? 2. I’m applying for law school. 3. What’s your favourite subject? 4. What’s your major? 5. I’m trying to decide what classes to take. 6. What do you like about school? 7. I’d like to take modern business communications courses. 8. I have lots of extra-curricular activities. 9. When is the assignment due? 10. I’d like to sign up for this course. Part Two: Dialogues 1. Apply for a school A: I’m trying to decide what school to apply for. B: Are you thinking about a public school or a private one? A: I’m not sure. What’s the difference between them? B: Public schools are usually state-funded, whereas private schools usually get their funding elsewhere. A: Which is better? B: One isn’t necessarily better than the other. It depends a lot on the school administration and the teachers. A: I hear you have to wear uniforms at private schools. B: Yeah, sometimes. 2. Study abroad A: What are you going to do for your year abroad, Tim? B: Study, study, study! I want to learn a lot. A: You’re going to take courses? B: Yes, I’m going to take some university courses there. A: Sounds hard. B: Yes, but I think it’s probably for the best. A: Won’t you get lonely? B: Hey, I’m a pretty cool guy; I’ll make friends. And I’ll have a lot of extra-curricular activities too. You know, like fencing or theater or something. 3. Schedule A: What’s your schedule like this year? B: Pretty busy. I have to pick up a lot of credits this year. A: What’s your major? B: I’m majoring in French literature. A: Oh, don’t you have to take that class on 18th-century poetry? It’s really difficult. I hear the students in that class have to write a paper 100 pages long. B: That’s right. We got the assignment last week. A: When is it due? B: Next Monday! A: Remind me never to sign up for that course! Part Three: Substitution Drills 1. A: I’m applying for (law school/ business school/ graduate school). B: Sounds hard. Good luck. 2. A: I’m trying to decide (what school to go to/ what to major in/ what classes to take). B: What are you interested in? 3. A: What’s your favourite (subject/ class/ teacher). B: This one, of course! 4. A: What’s your major? B: I’m (a business/ an art/ an engineering) major. 5. A: What do you like about (school/ that class/ your major)? B: It’s so interesting! 6. A: What courses are you taking? B: I’m taking some (art history/ applied physics/ aerospace design) courses. 7. A: Do you have any extra-curricular activities? B: Sure. I’m (on the soccer team/ in the film club/ learning piano). 8. A: In that class, we have to (take a test every day/ write a long paper/ read lots of books). B: What a hard teacher! 9. A: When is the (assignment/ project/ report) due? B: It’s due tomorrow. 10. A: I’d like to sign up for (this class/ summer courses/ accounting). B: You should talk to the registrar. Part Four: Monologue “There is much debate as to the best kind of education for students today. Some think private schools are tops. A lot of money goes into these schools and the programs are usually of a high quality, yet the tuition fees are often more than the average person can afford. Others think that given a good administration and teachers who care, public schools can offer good educations as well. One problem is that classes in public schools tend to have many more students than private schools, and therefore individual attention can sometimes suffer. Generally, however, quality is based on the individual schools and student interests rather than whether the schools are publicly or privately funded.” Part Five: Vocabulary and Phrases - apply for: to request admission - major in: to specialize in a subject - take (a class): to enroll in a course - extra-curricular activities: activities outside of the regular curriculum - I’m trying to decide…: I’m considering... - What’s the difference between…: What is the distinction between... - It depends on…: It depends on... - schedule: a plan or timetable - tuition: the fee for instruction